Friday, December 5, 2025

CHRISTMAS BOOK: I Need Christmas, An Oakville Family Christmas by Carol Ann Kauffman



 After a depressing year of sadness, loneliness, and self-doubt, successful civil engineer and former All-American basketball star Elizabeth (Betsy) Curry returns home to Oakville, Ohio, for the Christmas holidays a depressed and broken women. 

Reeling from her bitter divorce from the handsome, charming, but morally decrepate Tommy DeMalio, her college sweetheart and first big love, who left her after two years of what she thought was a good marriage for a stripper he met at an office bachelor party for her co-worker, Betsy feels lost and empty. 

Not exactly anticipating the happy holiday with her family and their multitude of joyful Christmas customs and long-time storybook-like traditions, she knows she needs them in order to heal. 

Once comfortable at home and feeling somewhat better about herself, Tommy shows up and claims he wants a reconciliation, throwing her back into the self-destructive cycle of doubt, hostility, and suspision she is trying so hard to escape.

She discovers her father has set her up with his protégé at work, the tall, handsome, athletic red-haired Patrick, who, try as hard as she can, she can’t find a single thing she doesn’t like about him.

So, what’s the problem? 

Betsy feels it’s too soon for her to love again. How can she love anyone again when she doesn’t like herself or what she’s become since the break-up. Also, she fears she will hurt the sweet, gentle Patrick.

Will the love, joy, and goodwill of the holiday season coupled with the many long-time holiday 
customs and Curry family traditions help Betsy to find herself again? Will she be strong enough to lift herself out of her self-induced prison so that she can take another chance on love?





Amazon Link:






Thursday, December 4, 2025

CHRISTMAS MOVIE: Klaus (2024) on Netflix


 
J.K. Simmons is a national treasure. I first remember him as the psychologist in the early Law Order series. Later, he was the insurance guy on TV commercials. 

But this guy has serious acting chops. He can carry the whole show, all by himself. If you have not seen him in the following, you are missing out:

         1. Night Sky*
         2. Being the Ricardo's*
         3. Goliath
         4. The Tomorrow War
         5. Brockmire
         6. 21 Bridges
         7. Counterpart*
         8. The Snowman
         9. The Accountant
        10. La La Land
                    (I have starred my favorites.)

This versatile actor also does one great Santa Claus.
















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Wednesday, December 3, 2025

CHRISTMAS RECIPE: Cranberry Butter Crunch Bars


 

From A Taste of Home







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Tuesday, December 2, 2025

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS: Mason Jar Snowman Votives


 
From Pinterest







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Monday, December 1, 2025

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITY: ADVENT CALENDAR: Countdown to Christmas


 From Pinterest





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Sunday, November 30, 2025

SCHEDULE: December 1-5, 2025


 


Monday, December 1 - CHRISTMAS ACTIVITY:
Christmas Advent Calendar: Countdown to Christmas

Tuesday, December 2 - CHRISTMAS CRAFT:
Mason Jar Snowman Votives 

Wednesday, December 3 - CHRISTMAS RECIPE:
Cranberry Butter Crunch Bark

Thursday, December 4 - CHRISTMAS MOVIE:
Klaus
(Netflix)

Friday, December 5 - CHRISTMAS BOOK:
I Need Christmas
An Oakville Family Christmas 
by Carol Ann Kauffman 







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Note:

Vision and Verse does not store any personal information, such as email addresses or home addresses. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.